Regulatory Licencing and Compliance for Payments, E-Money, MSBs and Digital Assets
Regulatory licencing, authorisation and registration, compliance advisory and ongoing compliance support for payment institutions, EMIs, MSBs, money transmitters and cryptoasset firms. We advise across the UK, Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Get in Touch
Whether you need licensing support, compliance advice or regulatory strategy, our team is ready to help. Free initial consultation - no obligation.
Regulatory licencing andcompliance advisory for payments,e-money, money transmissionand digital asset firms.
Regulatory Licencing & Authorisation
Licence, registration and authorisation applications across our seven priority markets.
Compliance Advisory
Perimeter analysis, regulatory strategy and compliance framework design.
Ongoing Compliance Support
Monitoring, reporting, regulatory change and board reporting after authorisation.
AML & Financial Crime
Risk assessment, customer due diligence, monitoring, screening and sanctions controls.
Sectors
Sectors We Advise
Regulatory Counsel advises four core sectors: payment institutions, electronic money institutions, money services businesses and money transmitters, and cryptoasset firms. We cover the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Payment Institutions
FCA authorisation and registration under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, safeguarding, and ongoing compliance for payment firms.
Electronic Money Institutions
EMI authorisation under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, safeguarding, own funds and ongoing supervision support.
Money Services Businesses & Money Transmitters
FINTRAC, FinCEN and state money transmitter, AUSTRAC and Asia-Pacific registration, plus multi-jurisdiction AML frameworks.
Cryptoassets & Digital Assets
Regulatory classification, UK cryptoasset registration and authorisation, MiCA CASP licencing and financial crime controls.
Services
We handle both getting regulated and staying compliant: licensing, registration and authorisation for new permissions, then compliance advisory, ongoing compliance support, AML and financial crime, safeguarding and regulatory remediation once you are authorised.
Regulatory Licencing, Registration & Authorisation
Licence, registration and authorisation applications for payment, e-money, MSB and cryptoasset firms across our seven priority markets.
Compliance Advisory
Regulatory perimeter analysis, permission strategy and compliance framework design.
Ongoing Compliance Support
Retained monitoring, policy maintenance, regulatory change and board reporting after authorisation.
AML & Financial Crime
AML, sanctions, transaction monitoring and financial crime prevention programmes.
Regulatory Remediation
Information requests, s166 reviews, enforcement response and credible remediation.
Safeguarding & Client Money
Safeguarding design, reconciliation, resolution packs and annual audit readiness for payment and e-money firms.
Variation of Permission
Adding permissions, upgrading from SPI to API and extending an existing authorisation.
Regulatory Reporting
Regulatory returns, data quality and reporting governance across regimes.
Compliance Audit
Independent, risk-based reviews of your compliance arrangements.
Change of Control
Qualifying holdings, s178 notifications and regulator engagement on transactions.
Our Approach
Authorisation is not a one-off hurdle. For payments, e-money, MSB and cryptoasset firms it is the licence to operate, hold client funds and expand into new markets.
Firms with credible safeguarding, financial crime and governance frameworks clear authorisation faster, retain banking and scheme relationships and register in new jurisdictions with less friction. We build that foundation with you, from first application through to ongoing supervision.
Licencing and Authorisation Strategy
Becoming a payment institution, EMI, money services business or registered cryptoasset firm requires more than preparing an application. It requires the correct permission, the right jurisdiction and a structure the regulator will accept.
We advise on small versus authorised permissions, safeguarding and capital structure, and the governance the FCA, FINTRAC, FinCEN, AUSTRAC, MAS and EU authorities expect to see before submission.
Authorisation Through to Ongoing Compliance
Regulatory work does not end at authorisation. Firms must maintain safeguarding, AML and financial crime controls, regulatory reporting and governance that withstands supervision.
We support firms through ongoing compliance, variations of permission, new market registrations, regulatory change and remediation.
Specialist Sectors
We work only with payment institutions, EMIs, MSBs, money transmitters and cryptoasset firms.
Priority markets are the UK, the European Union, Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. We do not advise on insurance, mortgages or consumer credit.
We work daily with the FCA Handbook, the Payment Services Regulations 2017, the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and the FINTRAC, FinCEN, AUSTRAC, MAS and EU regimes. We take payments, e-money, MSB and cryptoasset firms from first application to ongoing supervision.
Partnering with us means challenging your business to think differently, make informed decisions and achieve a competitive advantage.
Tailored Strategy
We review your business model, target markets and regulatory landscape to build a clear regulatory strategy tailored to your needs.
Expert Execution
We prepare and manage your application from drafting to submission to approval, handling all regulator communications directly.
Ongoing Support
We support you post-authorisation with ongoing compliance, reporting and regulatory change management across jurisdictions.
Featured
Regulation is not the obstacle. It is your competitive advantage.
We help businesses transform regulatory requirements into strategic assets that differentiate them in the market.
Speak to an expert →Latest Insights
View all insightsCanada RPAA Compliance 2026: New Bank of Canada Guidance on Safeguarding, Senior Officers and Annual Reporting
The Bank of Canada's 14 August 2026 retail payments FAQs clarify RPAA safeguarding, express trust legal opinions, annual reporting, senior officers and third-party service providers.
CASS 15 Compliance 2026: Complete FCA Guide for Payment Institutions and EMIs
A practical guide to CASS 15 compliance for payment institutions and EMIs, covering safeguarding, daily reconciliation, reporting, audits, resolution packs and FCA expectations.
Trusted by Payment, E-Money, MSB and Digital Asset Firms Worldwide
"They handled our FCA authorisation from start to finish. The process was transparent, they set realistic timelines, and we were authorised within the timeframe they outlined. Very straightforward to work with."
Managing Director, UK Payments Firm
"We engaged Regulatory Counsel for our EMI licence application in Lithuania. Their understanding of the local regulatory requirements was strong, and they kept us well informed throughout. Would recommend for any EU licensing matter."
Co-Founder, European Fintech
"We needed compliance support across three jurisdictions simultaneously. They were responsive, commercially aware, and genuinely understood the operational realities of running a regulated crypto business."
Head of Compliance, Digital Asset Platform
Global Coverage
A global licencing and compliance strategy for payments, e-money and digital asset growth
We design and deliver end-to-end regulatory growth plans for payment institutions, EMIs, MSBs and digital asset firms expanding across markets. From selecting the right licence and jurisdiction to securing authorisation and maintaining ongoing compliance, we support each stage of international growth across the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
FCA · HMRC
United Kingdom
Payment institution and EMI authorisation, cryptoasset registration, safeguarding and ongoing FCA compliance.
National Competent Authorities
European Union
Payment institution and EMI authorisation by national competent authorities, and MiCA authorisation for crypto-asset service providers.
FinCEN · State Regulators
United States
Federal MSB registration and state money transmitter licencing, with BSA and AML programme design.
FINTRAC · Bank of Canada
Canada
MSB and foreign MSB registration, retail payment activities registration and ongoing AML compliance.
AUSTRAC
Australia
Remittance sector registration, digital currency exchange registration and AML/CTF programme obligations.
MAS
Singapore
Payment Services Act licencing: Standard and Major Payment Institution classes, thresholds, safeguarding and digital payment token services.
C&ED · SFC
Hong Kong
Money Service Operator licencing by Customs and Excise for remittance and money changing, and SFC virtual asset platform licensing.
Global Coverage
60+ Additional Countries
We advise on regulatory licensing and compliance across over 65 jurisdictions worldwide, including Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Nigeria, India, and more.
Contact us
Speak to a payments, e-money or digital asset expert
Whether you are planning a licence application, expanding into new markets or strengthening your compliance framework, our team provides end-to-end regulatory support for your growth strategy. Free initial consultation - no obligation.
Contact